Sept. 10th

Hiya everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful week! We've been super busy. Monday evening we met with Sarah. And we've decided to drop her. She isn't getting anywhere and is thinking to kinda part ways with the church for now because "if I leave and miss it, I know that it'll always be there." It's frustrating. She came to sacrament meeting on Sunday, and will probably keep coming to church whenever she isn't busy, but right now she isn't progressing. We'll meet up with her every now and then, because we love her and she's so great! We know that eventually she'll see what she needs to do.

Sister McNamara taught me how to heel click! I've been struggling with it forever! (Abbey and Morgan). But she was a great teacher and I got it down! The day after learning my hip was so sore from using it so much in apparently such a different way haha. Absolutely ridiculous. That night though we were at the church, and bishop was there as well, and we linked arms with him and did it down the hall. I obviously didn't look the best, but we caught it on video! HA!

In other news, RYAN KEEPS ON BEING INCREDIBLE. We taught him a couple more times, and he doesn't have any problems with any of the Commandments, including the Word of Wisdom. He barely drinks any alcohol, coffee or tea, and quit smoking a few weeks before we met! He has been so prepared. He's also been keeping his commitments like crazy! He prays every morning and night, and tries to read from the Book of Mormon at least 10 minutes a day. When he found out he could listen to it on gospel Library he got so excited! After church yesterday Bishop asked if he had survived his second time alright, and Ryan told him, "Well, is it really surviving when you enjoy it so much?" He's so great! I always ask him if he knows that God is there whenever I see him, and he usually responds "No, but I hope for it." I asked him after church, and he said "Yes. But not only that, I know now that he LISTENS TO ME." It just makes my heart swell to see the change in him. He always tells us how happy he is. He texted us the other day, asking if crying while praying was normal, because he was never sad or anything, but he always found tears streaming down his face. I told him that it can be normal for some people when they feel the Spirit and then asked how he felt. He replied with "tranquil." After testifying of God's love and the Spirit I had him look up a couple of scriptures, and he expressed his gratitude for us SHOWING him the truth! We listened to MOTAB with him (I wonder if they're going to change the name--the "we're not Mormons" thing is going to cause a bunch of changes I think!) and I got so many chills. That's something I miss the most--good music. I didn't think I could bring anything, so I didn't and now we NEVER listen to music and it's so sad. Anyway. His baptism is still set for the 19th, and he's looking forward to it! he compared it to his Birthday or Christmas.

I'm still usually in pain. I'll finally be able to see a physical therapist on Thursday to try and get it sorted out. It's left me feeling kind of down, but I'm pushing through. I had a sort of an epiphany yesterday during my personal study time. Sis Mac and I changed our morning schedule, so now we're studying at different times, and it's nice to be able to talk out loud. I think it helps me a lot. So I began to read my Patriarchal blessing aloud, and it just hit me so hard. There're so many blessings in it that perfectly apply to my mission, and I felt it to my core. Tears were streaming, and my eyelashes were clumping, dang mascara. I just looked up to the ceiling and recommitted myself to this work and to my Heavenly Father and Savior. I'M SO READY!

I love you all and hope you know how blessed we all are, whatever our circumstances might be. God is there, and He listens to and loves us! His hand is always stretched out. We just need to reach out and grab it.

Love you!

--Sister Syphus

Pics

1- Us with Ryan! This is a crappy picture, but it'll do.

2- There's this little boy next door to Alison (someone we're attempting to teach) who always sticks his head out of the doggie door whenever we're there. It's absolutely hilarious

3- Me and Sis Mac!

4- Bishop's text to us after our heel clicking in the church. It was too funny not to take a picture of.